The 17-year-old midfielder is regarded as one of the best young prospects to emerge in recent years and and has earned the monicker 'Baby Messi' for some of his performances for United.

The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid have all been credited with an interest in the Scotland Under-21 international, who was named as SPFL young player of the month for November.

However, Gauld is unfazed by all the transfer rumours as he is happy at Tannadice and believes it is the best place for him at the moment to continue his development.

"If I were to move from Dundee United, I would have to think about what's best for me," Gauld told the Daily Record.

"Playing abroad would be the best culture of football for me to play in.

"At the moment I think I need to stay at Dundee United to progress.

"To be the best I can be, I need to be playing first-team games.

"If English Premier League clubs came calling now I would have to think what's best for me four or five years down the line.

"If I was to go down there I would have to seriously consider what my chances were of playing first-team football and if I was stuck in the reserves would I enjoy that?

"I can't just think that it is a big English club and I should jump at the chance to sign for them.

"I would really need to sit down and weigh it all up and think about what's best for me in the long term."

ood grief. Someone guessed that the form English player at the moment might be in his national side with some other players? And that's espionage? Now if they discovered that Emile Heskey was going to be in the starting line up.... at right back.... THAT would be espionage. Give it a rest Roy.